Hits and Misses (April 22-28)

Here’s a look back at the week that was…..

HITS

• After Monday evening’s band concert, I was asked to join a group of students for dinner at a local restaurant. This isn’t a group that I get to spend time with regularly, so after some internal debate, I decided to go. What fun! We sat around for quite a while as we laughed and shared stories from the term that is quickly coming to an end. It was nice to spend some time with these great young people and get off campus for a little while.
• On Tuesday night, I thought my phone was going to blow up from all the text messages I was receiving. As the choir was returning home from tour, they experienced a minor moment of excitement as one of the tires caught fire. The story honestly seems a little humorous in hind sight, but we are all glad that everyone returned home unharmed.
• On Thursday evening, the School of Music honored students who have excelled in their applied studies this semester with the Orpheus Awards. As you would expect, everyone sang and played exceptionally well. These are the moments that are so much fun to be involved with because there is nothing better than collaborating with students who have thoroughly prepared themselves and their repertoire.
• An early Saturday morning found me back on campus to judge another piano festival in Plainview. I heard some good playing and got to meet a couple of elementary students that are exceptionally talented. I always enjoy getting to speak with parents for a few moments and validate their child’s potential while answering any burning questions. As much as I enjoy working with collegiate students, I must admit that I really miss teaching these young pianists a lot. I wish there was time and opportunity to get back into working with young students without overwhelming my schedule.

MISSES

• People with big egos sometimes need to check and see if their ego is appropriate. If you don’t have the talent to support your enormous head, you probably need to scale it back just a little bit.
• It’s the end of April and temperatures are going crazy. That means I’m struggling with allergies more than normal and simply feeling under the weather at the moment. I don’t mean to be cranky, but that might just be par for the course for a few days.
• I hate the feeling that I don’t have time to write anymore. Hopefully there’s more time and inspiration for blogging this summer.

Hits and Misses (April 15-21)

Here’s a look back at the week that was…..

HITS

• Voice juries came a little earlier than normal this semester and everyone seemed to sing quite well. With a looming choir tour, we were scrambling to complete as many things as possible before students hit the road. Since the band UIL competition was taking over the music building, we found ourselves in the Brown Conference Center. That space proved to be very resonant and a fairly good place for young singers.
• Late Wednesday afternoon, I hopped in the car with Dr. King and headed to El Paso for a recruiting trip. Although things didn’t go exactly as planned, we met some quality students, heard some great jazz, and made valuable contacts that will be beneficial in future endeavors. We also enjoyed some good food, lots of time to talk, and got much-needed sleep.
• Get ready West Texas….it looks as though the Geriatric Ward will be coming for a visit in a few weeks. I’m not entirely sure WHAT I’m going to do to entertain them all week (we all know that there is SO MUCH to do in Plainview!) but I’m looking forward to having them here for a few days before heading back to Arkansas for the summer.  Here’s my disclaimer…..I was told for years that I was adopted! It’s the only explanation…….LOL!

MISSES

• El Paso must also top this portion of the list. I was struck by the abject poverty that existed in such close proximity to areas of luxury and lavishness. It broke my heart and made me want to look for ways to do more when I encounter those hurting.
• The end of the semester brings with it lots of stressed out kids. I’ve seen some in tears and others so frustrated they could punch a hole in a wall. There have been lots of quiet conversations and text messages to let them vent their frustrations and fears while trying to keep them calm and remind them that things will get much better again in just a few weeks.

Hits and Misses (April 8-14)

Let’s try this again. I’ll try not to fall asleep while writing the post this time and actually finish what I start! (Can you tell I’m ready for the end of the semester?) Here’s a look back at the week that was…..

HITS

• As the semester comes to a close, I got to hear and perform in some wonderful recitals. Franchesca Fuentes started the week with an excellent junior recital. Even though I tease her relentlessly about the song, I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing her develop Eric Whitacre’s Goodnight Moon into a signature piece. On Friday, I had a double dose of performing. Lillie Cooper and I presented her senior recital in the afternoon. That evening, I got to collaborate with baritone Robert Cardwell in an art song recital that was simply magical. Even though the program was undergoing changes until the very last minute — mainly because I simply didn’t have time to learn everything we had originally programmed — I think we created a program that was interesting and fulfilling for us as performers as well as our audience. It has been really nice to hear all of the positive feedback from this recital. I’m looking forward to the next collaboration with this incredibly talented singer and teacher.
• Thursday evening saw another performance of the Singing Men of Texas. What made this concert such a “Hit” was the incredible space we were in. The sanctuary at First Baptist Church in Dimmitt is a beautiful place to make music. The acoustics are warm and inviting. The piano is glorious as well. Once this congregation finds a minister of music (another story for another time), I hope to have the opportunity to get back into that space. It really was a pleasure….
• On Saturday, I took the afternoon to spend some solitude in Lubbock. It was a simple plan — a quiet lunch with a hearty steak and a good book — followed by extended time to read some fiction. I have to remind myself occasionally how important it is for me to pull away from everything and everyone in order to re-center myself. Now I’m ready for the final push of the semester and the work that remains.

 

MISSES

• I woke up Saturday morning to find that I was extremely sore. When I mentioned it to a friend, he looked at me like I was crazy. Of course I was sore….I had essentially played 4 full programs in 2 days! (The long Singing Men rehearsals are almost worse than an actual performance.) After a long hot shower, a dose of Tylenol, and a date with a tube of Ben Gay, I was able to move with more ease, but I certainly was not ready to do much of anything that involved my arms and shoulders. By Sunday morning, I was feeling better, but still extremely tired. That did not make for a happy or patient church musician….and I might have been a little more verbal about things than I should have been. I spoke the truth, but maybe not in the kindest way possible.  Oh vey!
• As I was preparing to meet up with the other members of the Singing Men from Plainview, I learned that things were happening in the Geriatric Ward. A last minute text letting the guys know they should leave without me allowed me to check on things at home. That’s when I learned that Mom was headed to the doctor because she was experiencing extreme dizziness and could not stand on her own. While this is not completely unusual for older adults, given the other health issues Mom is currently facing — especially the challenges of stabilizing her blood pressure, I was worried. I was happy to hear that afternoon that the doctor had diagnosed her with a severe case of vertigo and medication was going to treat the problem.
• My glasses are giving me fits at the moment. During my last exam, the doctor found that I have astigmatism and changed my prescription accordingly. So now I can see clearly without my glasses for a while and then suddenly find myself in desperate need of their assistance. That really isn’t problematic since I’ve worn glasses most of my life. What is driving me crazy is these lenses seem unable to stay in the frames. If I place them on the desk at just the right angle, a lens will pop out. While leaving the stage last Sunday morning at church, I noticed that something was odd. When I got to my seat, the lens dropped to my lap without any jarring at all. All of those summers spent working for the optometrist are coming in handy! I’m perfectly comfortable grabbing the frames and wedging the lens back into place…I just wish I didn’t have to. As soon as I get back to eastern Arkansas, I’ll be heading to see Stella so she can fix these things once and for all and set me up for another check up.

 

Hits and Misses (April 1-7)

Here’s a look back at the week that was….

HITS

• I am so thankful that a trip to the chiropractor early in the week ended my shoulder pain and got me through a long week of playing. I can’t believe it took me so long in life to learn the importance of maintaining a healthy and balanced alignment. I have never felt better and experienced so little pain and discomfort in my adult life. 
• There is not a lot to tell because this week was dominated by Opera Scenes at WBU. This was such a fun program that represented a wide variety of musical styles. With scenes from Sweeney Todd, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Carmen, Cosi Fan Tutte, Dido and Aeneas, and Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers, there was never a moment to get bored with the rewarding accompaniments. It is such an honor to work with colleagues like Brian Kuhnert. Brian regularly pushes students to excel and then gives them the tools necessary to do exactly what he expects. WBU Opera continues to produce higher quality productions each semester….and I get to have a blast watching the whole thing come together from the piano.
• After a long week of rehearsals, it was a welcome reward to join a couple of students for lunch on Saturday afternoon. We headed to Lubbock and visited Red Robin. There was lots of laughter as we talked about life and music…..such a joy to watch the progress these young musicians are making!

MISSES

• For the first time in a very long time, I did not attend church on Easter Sunday. Scandalous, right? I enjoyed the weekend in Austin and decided that I was going to enjoy a total holiday while away. I slept in on Resurrection Sunday, but I did enjoy a peaceful time in a beautiful city park in the early afternoon as I reflected on the events of Holy Week. It was strange to not worship with other believers on what I consider to be the most important Sunday of the year, but I also celebrated the fact that my salvation is not dependent upon my “regular attendance” in a house of worship.
• By the time Saturday evening rolled around, I was completely exhausted. I was thoroughly ready to crawl in bed and let the week come to a complete close!
• Tough decisions are never fun. I found myself presented with a question this week that demanded a choice. There is no way to know what the right decision is until I make a choice and begin to walk down the path. I have made an initial choice and will begin to follow through with the decision, but I’ll continue to check with my heart and gut to make sure I’m not missing an important detail. I suppose for now I just have to relax and see what happens in the coming weeks…..

 

Hits and Misses (March 25-31)

Monday was all about traveling, so here it is….a little later than I intended!  Here’s a look back at the week that was….

 

HITS

• Thankfully, this week included a lot of good playing on my part….and there were a few things that I was worried about along the way! Tuesday night started the week of playing off with the Duo Piano recital with Dr. Fountain. While there were a few moments that had me shaking in my proverbial boots, it turned out to be a really nice recital and the audience enjoyed themselves. Wednesday and Thursday were devoted to playing for junior high choirs in the regional UIL competition. This is normally not very stressful at all….but this year I was playing some repertoire that I only had the 20 minutes prior to walking on stage to rehearse with the choir. It worked out, but I’m sure I have a few more gray hairs as a result of it.
• Easter Break could not have come at a better time. I thoroughly enjoyed a few days in Austin.
• What did I do in Austin? I ate a lot of good food! Let’s see….there was Cedro (an Italian cafe), Bartlett’s steaks, La Madeleine Bakery and Cafe for breakfast (twice!), as well as trips to In-n-Out and Jack in the Box. What can I say? I was determined to feed my cravings…..and I knew I was going to skip out on the barbeque…..Texas brisket cannot compare with Memphis BBQ.
• What else did I do in Austin? I discovered Half-Price Books and made trips to four different locations. I had plenty to read in my bag, but the price tags were so addictive…..and they had MUSIC! I went through the music shelves with a fine-toothed comb and found every score I did not own and remotely wanted….then I looked at the price. For the most part, the staff had no idea what they really had on the shelf. For example, I picked up a two-volume edition of the Beethoven sonatas edited by Schnabel for under $40.  The two volumes together are listed for over twice that on Amazon. SCORE! So I came home with more books that I planned……that would be 12 new musical scores, 7 volumes of composer biographies/studies, and 4 new novels. I think I have discovered my favorite new store….and I think there is one just off of I-40 in OKC…..the perfect stop when I’m driving to and from the Geriatric Ward!
• Speaking of the Geriatrics, it was nice to get good health reports for both of them this week. Some of you may have sensed that my siblings and I were experiencing a lot of stress last week. I think it is safe to say that we are especially thankful for the extra prayers and the words of encouragement from friends who knew all of the details of what was going on.  Pop went to the hospital on Wednesday morning to have his heart shocked in an effort to correct his recurring AFIB issues. While this is pretty standard procedure, there were definitely risks involved and if the treatment didn’t work, more invasive measures would certainly be on the table. Dad came through things like a champ and was released from the hospital much sooner than anyone expected that day. Mom received disturbing news during her latest mammogram and last week’s biopsy returned the answer that we did not want to hear. This week’s meeting with her oncologist was very encouraging and allayed our greatest fears. The tumor in Mom’s breast is roughly the size of a dime and is a type of cancer that the doctor described as “unaggressive.” He further went on to assure her that she would sooner face death from natural causes and old age before this type of breast cancer would be fatal. Because of the type of cancer and its minimal size, Mom will not face chemotherapy or radiation. She will undergo an outpatient procedure that will freeze and remove the tumor via syringe — without the difficult recovery period associated with traditional surgery.  My family and I are very thankful for good reports!

MISSES

• I have struggled with a sore left shoulder all week that has progressively gotten worse. By the end of the week, it had gotten to the point that I was unable to place any weight on it — including laying flat on my back — without great pain. Massage and prescription strength Naproxen have helped to ease the pain. I will be visiting the chiropractor early in the week to see if we can identify the cause of the pain and not just treat the symptoms.
• The last thing I want to deal with when on the road are hotel issues, but that was the price I had to pay this weekend. On Saturday morning, it took FOREVER to get out of my room because the shower had absolutely no water pressure. Thankfully, that was quickly corrected when the on-call maintenance man came to the rescue and fixed the leaky fixtures. That evening, I finally tried to watch a little television…..but the lines running up and down the screen were not going to let that happen. So I did a lot of reading and actually enjoyed having a little enforced silence in my room for several days.
• The biggest miss of all this week was the realization that I had to return to reality. I don’t fully understand what is going on this semester, but I’m struggling. It’s been a rough year so far and I am very ready to see the arrival of summer vacation.